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Another immigration arrest is making headlines, this time in El Paso, Texas. Six federal agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested an undocumented woman who'd gone to court to get a protective order for domestic violence, reports KFOX. In fact, El Paso County Attorney Jo Anne Bernal thinks the woman's alleged abuser tipped off agents that she'd be in court. “I cannot recall an instance where ICE agents have gone into the domestic violence court, specifically looking for a victim of domestic violence,” she says. The El Paso Times reports on a complicated background: The alleged victim, who is identified as transgender and a citizen of Mexico, appears to have a criminal record that includes domestic violence and has been deported six times.

Bernal, however, says that history is irrelevant to what unfolded in the courthouse last week. "It really was a stunning event," she tells the Washington Post. "It has an incredible chilling effect for all undocumented victims of any crime in our community." The woman had been living in a shelter for victims of domestic abuse and had been driven to the courthouse by a victim's advocate. The judge had granted her protective order before the arrest in a hallway outside the courtroom. She is now in El Paso County Jail on an ICE detainer and expected to be deported. A spokeswoman for ICE declined to comment on the arrest, which is likely to heighten unease in the immigrant community in the wake of President Trump's promised crackdown. The woman's own arrest on domestic violence charges came in 2011, per KFOX, but no details were provided. (Read more Immigration and Customs Enforcement stories.)

She was deported 6 times previously under Obama's watch but that was okay. Nothing more to see here folks, please move along.

kumatose

Feb 16, 2017 12:54 PM CST

Trump is playing the same ol spending scam on US taxpayers. If you want 80% of the illegal immigrants to leave the US and not return (including if they've been deported), start arresting the crooks who hire them. Stop falling for the Trumpublican scams on America.

Eastwind 7

Feb 16, 2017 11:50 AM CST

If a person with an extensive criminal history broke down your door, and entered your house or apartment, would you call the police? Would you shed a tear, if the cops came and arrested that person? How then, is it any different, if a person with a long criminal history, entered the country illegally, and was arrested by Federal agents? Just why is it all right for people to cross the border illegally, and then commit more crimes while in the country? What makes them worthy of your tears? What makes them victims? It simply does not make any sense. You can't have it both ways.